Display table



Patented Oct. 4, 1927.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS w. TIM-PSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO B. H. MACY a 00., INC., 01

NEW YORK, N. Y. ,JA CORPORATION OF NE YORK.

DISPLAY TABLE.

Application filed Novemberfi, 1926. Serial No. 146,022,

The present invention relates to tables, counters or cases for displaying translucent articles, such as lamp shades and the like, and consists in the combinations and ar- 6 rangements of elements hereinafter described and particularly set forth in the accompanying claim.

When a customer desires to see the effect of artificial light through a lamp shade, the attendant generally places the shade over a lamp and lights the latter. Then he replaces the shade by another, repeating the opera.- tion until the customer is suited. This is not only a tedious operation, but also makes it difiicult for the customer to make his selection, as generally only one shade can be viewed at a time, and consequently comparison between different shades is very diflicult.

The present invention now aims at overcoming these difficulties and disadvantages by displaying a number of lamp shades side by side and having one or all of them illuminated at one time. In this manner comparing the effect of the different shades will be easy, and by elimination the customer can finally make his selection. This not only saves the attendant a great deal of time, as he can simultaneously place half a dozen or more lamp shades on the table, and. all he then has to do is to switch on or off the lights for the different shades. It also saves the repeated handling andconsequent soiling of the shades.

In the following the invention is described as applied to a table or desk, but it is evident that it may be used in connection with other store furniture, such as counters, cases or window boxes not only for displaying lamp shades, but also for showing the lighted effect of any other transparent or translucent articles.

In the accompanying drawing one embodiment of the invention is illustrated, and

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the display table forming the subject-matter of the present invention;

Figure 2-, a front elevation partly in elevation of the same; and

Figure 3, a top plan view of Figure 2 partly in section.

In the drawing reference numeral 10 represents a desk or table of any suitable type or shape, the lower part 11 of which may be arranged with drawers, or shelves for storing the goods to be displayed.

The upper portion of the table is preferably in the form of a shallow box 9 divided by partitions 12 into a number of compartments 13, six of which being shown on the drawing. The top 14, which has an inlaid cover 15 of linoleum or other suitable material, is provided with an opening or window 16 over each compartment 13, and preferably in the middle thereof.

The linoleum lining on the top serves partly 'to prevent breakage of articles to be displayed if made of hard material, such as glass, porcelain and the like, and partly to protect the top from being scratched or dented. A pane of ground glass 17 is fitted in each window and underneath, on the bottom of each compartment, is secured an electric bulb 18 which may be surrounded by a reflector 19 to concentrate the light rays on the window pane. Necessary wiring is pro vided from an electric source to the lamps and to their individual switches 20. In order to conceal the wiring as much as possible, it may be drawn through one of the table legs. At 21 is indicated a grid or ven-' 'tilator for each compartment which may consist of wire mesh or perforated sheet metal plates.

- When a display is going to be made one or more shades 22 are placed on the table, one over each window. The switch button for the bulb over which the shade to be inspected is situated is then pressed and the exact etfectof the shade will be seen. When it is desired to compare the effects of different shades the corresponding switch buttons are to be pushed in. The customer may in this manner easily make his selection of a lamp shade.

In some cases it may be desirable to use colored instead of white ground glass panes in the windows when each window may show a different colorfor the lamp bulbs may be colored for the same purpose. This arrangement would be advantageous for the display of other articles than lamp shades.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction shown and described, but that these may be varied without departing from'the spirit of I Oct. 4, 1927.

L. R. TITCOMB ET AL DEVICE FOR EXTINGUIS HING' FIRES Filed July 7,, 1926 V. INVENTORS BY/%t//C 'hq ATr RNEY-S 

